The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-17

The War Among the Knights.
special to the indianapolis journal
MINNEAPoLIs, Mimi, Oct 15.-For nearly ten
hours, to-day, barring a brief intermsson for
lunch the General Assembly of the Knights of
Labor was in the most secret OF all its conclaves
IAN executive session. The subject under
night nominaliy under the auspices of the COM
mittee on laws but nm in reality en-
he administration, and which not only reduces
The M N bership Of the executive board from six
10 four, but confers upon the general master
Dhip of that body. The friends of T. B. Barry.
he Michigan legislator, and Bailey, the Ohio
miners champion, saw in this proposition at
lack upon their leaders and resolved to fight it
10 the bitter end The result was that the pro-
seedinrs OF the day were the most sensational
and noisy that have ever transpired in
any previous session of the General Assembly
since the order was brought into
Existence. The anti-adm Illustration men started
Of the fight to-day by renewing the charge that
the proposition was aimed at the two "Bs," and
delegate A. VI. Dewey, of Detroit, called
upon to explain the report that he had said GER
tain things derogatory to those gentlemen. both
Dewey said that. without mentioning names, he
had made the statement that it would be for the
best interests of the order for two members of
the executive board to retire at once
Mr. Barry flung the lie into Deweys teeth by
stating that he had named him Barry as one
OF the two. From this time on the debate
the floor and made a vehement defense. He
said that it was sought to down" him because
he. from the time that he had entered the
ecutIve board, had set his face against the finan-
cial mismanagement something akin to hood
lerism, which prevailed at headquarters. Then
he went on to give details. He said that
tain master workman OF New YORK. naming
Thomas OReilly, who had been appointed an
organizer, had brought only FIVE assemblies into
existence during the year, while he permitted
the previous mem beers hip to fall away, had
been paid $l,250 without authority, and that
Powdery had promised that the money should
be refunded.
made the motion to refund the money himself
ResuIning, Mr.. Barry said that this a vir-
tua admission that he considered il illegal. He
charged that General Secretary Lltchman bad
discharged clerks In the Office without notice
reason in spite of mis- (Barrys) demand that no
person should be discharged except for cause
Then, there WAS the case of Miss Ryan, who
was employed in the Office in spite of the fact
that she refused to affiliate with the order, on
the ground that 'the women of the order were
not proper associates for her." Continuing he
charged that the general executive board had
Employed q lady teleerapher in the Office who
was not member of the order, on the ground
that she had given valuable in
formation during the Southwestern strike The
present stenographer, he said. not mem
she was proposed, was ballotted for and was
elected the same night by Litchman, O'Reilly
and Hayes, despite the fact that :he constitution
said that person should be balloted for and
initiated the same night. He then attacked the
general executive board for bringing female
employees to the city and boarding them at the
leading hotel Of the city at a considerable out
lay, and read affidavit by former stenog-
rapher of the board, detailing alleged trickery
resorted to by several of its members and en-
ployes to work up a sentiment against himself
and Bailey. Hayes has gone around the country
charging that 1 am Aan narchist." said the ex-
cited speaker.
81 have said so only once, and that in a meet
ing of the board" shouted Hayes; now say
again." sit is a lie," responded Barry; ~ am as
loyal a son OF this Republic any upon
the outside"
Resuming, he said that in the face of the fall
ing off in mem bership the expenses of the
general Offices had doubled during the past
year, while only half the work of the previous
one had been done Barry went on in this
strain at length, and at one stage, advancing to
the table he shook his fist and exclaimed TO
Powderly, Presently when you get into a
sentimental mood, you will stand MP here with
tho tears in your eyes and offer your resgna-
ton. Don't go too far. / you that this
assembly is in no mood to entertain the one-nan
idea. 1t wants king. and it will have none.'
This was greeted with applause and Kisses.
Al another stage he charged delegate with
having declared that he and Bailey would have
to go. and the delegate, rising to his feet, de-
MED it.
half dozen delegates in chorus.
After Barry had concluded Hayes took the
floor and made a long speech in self defense.
He said that he had broken up his business by
bis devotion to the order, and had gone to Pow
derly and given in his resignation. mir Pow
derby said. " continued Hayes .'if you GO will
go, too Good God replied If you and
would 60, what would become of the orderP"
This was greeted with roars of laughter on
the part of the Observation-Disclosures.
Resuming, he explained the charge that he
had boarded his family at a hotel in Philadel-
phia at the expense of the order, saying that he
did so in order that himself and Powderly might
remain on the board and save the organization.
Several delegates asked him il he had not spent
a considerable portion of his time in political
work in New jersey. He replied in the afirma-
tive, and said that but for the traitor like work
of the Labor member from Paterson he would
have dictated the United States Senator. Another
delegate asked him if he had gone with $1,000
TO Maine to defeat Reed for Congress.
YES" was the reply; II went there for that
purpose, ana now j will say more It is t. B.
Mcclure. and not John Jarrett, that defeated
Morrison IN Illinois. Morrison said d-n the
eight-hour law, and the expression lost him his
seat.
The discussion along in this vein for
executive board having something to say. At
times the uproar was deafenne. General Sec
rotary Litchman defended the administration of
his office at length, and several delegates
charged that the general administration was
honeycombed with reimbursement
When dusk approached there were loud calls
for vote and 1t was claimed that the admins
tration was STAYING off expression of opinion
because il knew that several delegates were
compelled to leave on the night trains. Finally,
however, the debate was adjourned until Mon
day. and the tired and perspiring delegates filed
from the nall
A paper put in circulation this evening
and, il is claimed has received the signatures of
thirty delegates, which pledges the signers, in
event OF the administration carrying the day,
to attend a conference to be called
some time next month This is
understood to presage split in
the order. Mr.. Powdery denied, in the course
of the days proceedings, that he had stated that
his resignation was prepared, and met by
shouts of Your friends saying it for you."
and Its being used as a club" The opinion in
the best-inforued circles is that the Powdery
administration will win by vote of about 80 to
90. Less than $50 delegates are now in the city,
and it is said thar. despite the reports of the
press committee, only 175 delegates presented
their credentials.
The French Military Scandal.
copyright 1857 by the New York Associated Press1
BERLIN, Oct. 15.-The French military scan
dial occupies the attention of both public and Of
fetal circles. 1t is impossible to deny that the